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sister-in-law.”
    Thoroughly chastised, Hawke dropped his fork and pushed back
    from the table. “Fine. I’ll go start on the damn thing now if it will get
    you all off my back.”
    He stormed from the room leaving Vin and Roman with the five
    ladies. It was Lauren who broke the tense silence.
    “I don’t think that boy is ever going to grow up.” She shook her
    head and looked Vin’s way. “I don’t remember there being any space
    large enough in Montford to actually hold a wedding that size.”
    He shook his head, “There isn’t. Even if she can get the VFW,
    their meeting hall won’t handle more than a hundred and fifty
    guests.”
    “What about tents?” Franki offered. “Maybe we could have a
    company bring tents out and set them up?”
    Again, Vin nixed the idea. “It’s just too damn wet. The first four
    to eight inches of ground is a soggy, muddy mess. No tent pole is
    going to hold up in it.”
    “So what are the options?” Franki asked. “I mean, it’s her
    wedding day. And I know she wanted to be married on Abe and
    Sera’s wedding anniversary…”
    “Either she’s going to have to elope, or postpone,” Marilyn said
    firmly. “I want to see them married on Crawley Creek just as bad as
    she does, but I can admit when Mother Nature has me whipped.”
    “What if we surprised them with a flight to Vegas? Marilyn, you,
    me, and the guys can start making phone calls to guests telling them

    65
    Lori King
    there’s a change of plans. Franki, you can hop on the internet and
    track down the best deal on a flight and hotel,” Lauren said, rising to
    the challenge and taking over as was in her nature.
    “That’s not a bad idea. They could still host a big reception back
    here on the ranch when everything dries out so that Lacy gets to use
    her arbor and everyone can celebrate with them.” Roman grinned her
    way. “How’d you get so smart, sis?”
    Lauren rolled her eyes. “Jeanette would you go track down
    Hawke and tell him not to rush making that arbor?”
    Jeanette hesitated and then nodded. “Whatever I can do to help.”
    “Thanks!” Jumping to her feet, Lauren scooped up a load of
    plates. “Come on troops, we’d better get cracking if we want to have
    everything sorted out by this evening. Hopefully, Lacy will
    appreciate the gesture instead of being disappointed that her original
    plans fell through.”
    Vin watched the love of his life as she began clearing the table.
    When she laughed, it lit up her whole face and made his stomach
    tingly. She’d managed to find a solution to a huge problem without
    even breaking a sweat, and she looked fucking hot doing it, too.
    “Earth to Vin? Where’d you go?” Roman snapped his fingers in
    front of Vin’s face to get his attention.
    “Sorry, I was daydreaming I guess.”
    The wry grin on Roman’s face irritated him. “I can just imagine
    who you’re daydreaming about.”
    Once they were alone in the dining room, Roman winked at him
    and said, “Lauren’s looking damn fine all grown up, huh?”
    Fighting back a snarl, he tipped his head in acknowledgement.
    “She’s always been beautiful. Since the first moment we met her.”
    “Yeah, but she really grew into her curves, and damn, she has a
    hell of a great ass now.”
    “Can it, Roman. You’ve got a woman,” Vin snapped.
    “Yeah, I do, and it’s about damn time you did, too. I remember
    how tight the two of you were when I first came to the ranch, and I
    see the way you still look at her when she’s not looking.”

    66
    Claiming His Cowgirl
    Vin shrugged, “It’s nothing, really. She’s not interested. That
    bridge burned long ago.” Standing, he collected the last couple of
    dishes from the table. “You’d better go find the address book, and a
    copy of Lacy’s guest list. We’ve got a long day ahead of us.”
    He turned away too fast for Roman to respond, but he could have
    sworn he heard his younger brother laughing at him as he headed into
    the kitchen.